Watford 0 - Ipswich Town 1

Watford 0-1 Ipswich Town

A LATE Michael Chopra strike was enough to end Ipswich`s Watford hoodoo at the 16th attempt.

Chopra`s decisive 90th minute strike handed Paul Jewell`s side all three points at the death, despite heavy pressure from the Hornets.

Gianfranco Zola made three changes from the opening day victory over Crystal Palace with Lee Hodson and Daniel Pudil replacing Lloyd Doyley and Carl Dickinson at full-back. Sean Murray returned for John Eustace. Steve Leo Beleck and Ikechi Anya were amongst the substitutes.

Ipswich Town started the brighter with winger Lee Martin almost immediately testing Manuel Almunia with a right-footed drive from 20 yards. The Spanish 'keeper alert enough early on to push the shot over the bar.

Watford came into the game slower, clearly missing the impact of skipper Eustace, it took Zola`s side until the 18th minute to test returning goalkeeper, Scott Loach.

Seizing on a ball from the right, Almen Abdi cut inside and crack a low drive into the palms of Loach from 20 yards.

Ten minutes later Almunia`s goal was under threat again when Spurs` loanee Massimo Luongo cracked a right-footed effort narrowly wide of the right-hand post from outside the area.

Half-time: 0-0

Just three minutes after the break Ipswich`s Jay Emmanuel-Thomas threatened when he cut in from the right and fizzed a low left-footed effort narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Luongo was the next to come close for the visitors, sending in a dangerous left-footed effort at Almunia who elected to punch to safety.

Watford`s best chance up to that point came in the 65th minute when Mark Yeates shifted the ball left to Pudil who crossed for Matej Vydra. The Czech youngster controlled the cross well before seeing his shot blocked for a corner.

The Tractor Boys should have taken the lead with 22 minutes left to play, Lee Martin skipping down the right before firing in a cross which both Nyron Nosworthy and Chopra both failed to connect with.

In the 74th minute Watford came even closer, hitting the bar before substitute Anya procrastinated on the ball too long, seeing his shot blocked eventually.,br>A minute later Abdi broke forward but also took too long on the ball, failing to release the onrushing trio of Anya, Chris Iwelumo and Vydra.

Abdi wasted another opportunity with nine left on the clock, heading tamely wide at the far-post after Pudil whipped in a left-footed cross.

Vydra had the Golden Boys` next chance, sending a low effort into the palms of Loach after Iwelumo had skittled the Town defence out the way following a long clearance.

Town substitute Jason Scotland should have scored when he half-volleyed a close-range effort straight into the palms of Almunia following fellow sub Andy Drury`s cross.

In the 90th minute, Town`s pressure told and after skipper Carlos Edwards sent in a teasing right-wing cross, Chopra arrived, sliding into the condemn the Hornets to their first competitive defeat under Zola.

Full-time: 0-1

Watford were quite unlucky to be fair, although Ipswich were also unlucky not to break the deadlock earlier. In an end-to-end game it always looked likely that a late goal would secure the win and Ipswich having had the better chances deserved it on balance.

We`re still only three competitive games into the season. The evolution from mix-and-match to 'tiki taka` just won`t happen overnight.Eustace was desperately missed in midfield and with Murray having a poor game in the middle, the Hornets were frequently outfoxed in the middle.

Your Comments (oldest first)

Seen enough to suggest that Zola is going the right way, that was Ipswich at full strength and fair to play their win, but, with players to come in, I can see us doing well this season. Will take a while to gel, but as long as we pick up points along the way, we feel be fine. Thought Iwelumo made a difference when he came on! Garner I feel offers very little and even when the ball was played to his feet, he offered nothing.

Garner did OK, but no more. Iwelumo immediately made a nuisance of himself and created one particularly good chance for Vydra. Advantage for Ipswich is they've only added 2/3 new faces - everything is new for us. We'll get there but it won't be instant, that's for sure.

Garner did OK in the circumstances, won a few headers & generally worked hard but he never made anything like the impact Iwelumo made. I'm confident that once Beleck & Geijo are fully fit, Garner will be on his way. He might be a 'Zola player' in that he does his best work on the ground, but he just never looks like scoring - problematic to say the least for a forward!

Ipswich closed us down so much the passing game got in a real mess during the first half. Ipswich were given the ball far too often and only sloppy finishing on their part stopped them scoring several times. We did not threaten at all until Iwelumo came on but the real problem is a lack of ability to pass accuratley to people moving into space.Lets hope it improves

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